Lot 207: JOHANN HEINRICH LUDWIG M™LLER (1814-1885)

A self-portrait of the artist wearing spectacles, facing right in black coat and waistcoat, white shirt and black stock, wearing the badge of the Royal Danish Order of the Dannebrog signed and dated on the obverse 'Johannes. M”ller. peint par lui mˆme. 1839.' (mid-right) and signed, dated and fully inscribed on the backing paper 'dieses Bild malte ich 1839. in Copenhagen von Johannes M”ller geb: in Lbeck d. 8 Octbr: 1814. Ritter vom Dannebroge 1837. K”ngl: d„n. Hofmaler 1842 Professor 1844' and on a piece of paper attached to the reverse of the frame 'This Picture I painted of myself in Copenhagen 1839. and it was exhibited there. I was then 24 years old. In 1842 King Christian the VIII nominated me his Painter; and Painter of the royal danish Court. (Konglig dansk Hof-Miniaturmaler) In 1844 the 16 Decbr: I obtained to be RA by the desire of the royal Academy in Copenhagen, and painted the King's Portrait as my Receptions Picture. - It is hanging in the Academy's Receptions Salon. The 17 Decbr, the day after my reception, I was nominated Professor - by especial desire of the Academy. In 1845 I received the large gold medal in Paris. In 1847 my King knighted me. (Knight of the ancient royal Dannebroge) In 1860 I was nominated Imperial Russ: Academicien in St: Petersbourg . Johannes M”ller This picture I give To my Dearest daughter M r s Mathilde Allen. 1883.' oval, 5 1/8 in. (130 mm.) high, rectangular gilt-wood frame PROVENANCE Dr. Allan Edgar Hawkins (b. 1847) and by direct descent. NOTES L. R. Schidlof ( The Miniature in Europe, Graz, 1964, II, p. 565) records that a self-portrait of the artist, signed and dated 1843, belonged to Mademoiselle A. Rothe, a descendant of the artist. A self-portrait, signed and dated 1843, is the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen (illustrated in T. Holck Colding, Miniature-og Emaillemaleri i Danmark 1606-1850, Aalborg, 1991, pl. 498, p. 245).